Reflecting on her debt-free journey, Shannon stays grounded in her financial mantra, ‘we are wealthy beyond money.’
Age: 41
Location: Suburb of Washington, D.C.
Occupation: Instructional Coach
Estimated Annual Salary: $80,000
Marital Status: Married, mom of two
Total Spending This Week: $1,211.25
🗓️ Day 1 – Monday
💸 Total Spent: $363.25
- Starbucks (prepaid): $5.25
- Lawn Service: $198
- Verizon bill: $78
- Hairspray: $55
- Poshmark skirt: $27
Shannon kicked off the week already feeling the weight of recurring charges. “I feel a little frustrated with the finances,” she admitted. A biannual $198 lawn service charge was “kind of annoying,” and she realized she was still caught in a credit card float cycle, paying off balances every Friday rather than daily.
“I want to get to the point where I’m not doing that… where I can immediately pay it off and not wait till Fridays,” she said.
🗓️ Day 2 – Tuesday
💸 Total Spent: $146 + subscriptions
- IHOP brunch with family: $146
- Recurring Hulu and Red Cross donations
It was a celebratory day as Shannon’s daughter graduated from elementary school. “Feeling pretty blessed and grateful today,” she said. The whole family, plus Shannon’s parents, marked the occasion with a big brunch outing.
🗓️ Day 3 – Wednesday
💸 Total Spent: $90 (not including FSA or subscription)
- Dunkin’ iced coffee
- Thrift store: ~$40
- Local nursery (plant + mulch): ~$50
- Disney+ subscription
Shannon’s first day of summer break meant a day to herself and a bit more spending than usual. “Overall, I spent more money than I normally do on a given day, but it’s been really nice,” she said. “I’m ending my afternoon at the pool kid-free.”
Many of the purchases were funded through her “house sinking fund,” which she’s set up to take the stress out of home-related expenses.
🗓️ Day 4 – Thursday (Juneteenth)
💸 Total Spent: $0
Instead of purchases, Shannon spent the day reflecting on her financial journey. “I dove headfirst into the Dave Ramsey philosophy,” she shared. “At the time we had $17,000 in debt… and so I got us out of debt and built an emergency fund.”
Now debt-free (except for the mortgage), she’s focused on staying mindful: “I have a mantra that I try to repeat, which is, ‘We are wealthy beyond money.’”
🗓️ Day 5 – Friday
💸 Total Spent: $612
- Dunkin’ iced coffees: small purchase
- Thrift store: $19
- Marriott hotel (summer trip): $443
- Pool snack (fries): $5
- Daughter’s automatic braces payment: $145
The highlight? Booking a summer getaway using their travel sinking fund. “My husband got paid, so I paid off all of the credit cards, and that felt good,” she said. She also snagged pieces for a Glinda the Good Witch outfit for an upcoming presentation. “The thrift stores, they have everything.”
🗓️ Day 6 – Saturday
💸 Total Spent: $0
No major purchases—just some reflections on the week. “I bought more coffee than I would’ve liked and went to the thrift store twice, which I don’t normally do,” Shannon said.
She’s looking ahead to bigger goals: “My husband and I want to take our kids on a big trip next summer… so I feel like I need to either cut back on some things or spend more consciously.”
🗓️ Day 7 – Sunday
💸 Total Spent: ~$0–$150 estimate
- Recurring donations (NAACP)
- Jazzercise class subscription
- Grocery run (~$225 budgeted; likely under)
Shannon capped off the week with groceries and gratitude for the accountability this project gave her. “Sometimes I think I buy things and I’m like, ‘Oh, it’ll be fine,’” she said. “But when I go to balance the budget, that’s when that credit card float happens.”
She’s hoping to build on what she’s learned. “I might kind of keep up with [this tracking] because I feel like it was a good accountability system for myself.”
💬 Final Reflections
Total Weekly Spend: ~$1,211.25
Shannon’s week showed just how much intentionality goes into her financial life, from travel funds to thrifted costumes. But it also highlighted the emotional side of money: growing up with divorce, navigating debt, and working toward “joyful spending.”
“I want to make sure my kids… don’t feel bad or like they are causing a strain on the family,” she said. “So it brings me a sense of calm and safety… knowing if something happens, we can probably pay for it.”
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